Acute effects of moderate-intensity continuous and accumulated exercise on arterial stiffness in healthy young men.

Abstract

To examine and compare the effects of acute moderate-intensity continuous and accumulated exercise with different intervals on arterial stiffness in humans. Healthy young men (n = 16) participated in four trials in a randomized crossover design: complete rest control (CON), continuous exercise (CE, 30-min cycling), accumulated exercise with 20 min of interval (AE20, 2 × 15-min cycling) and accumulated exercise with 60 min of interval (AE60, 2 × 15-min cycling). Exercise was performed at intensity of 50 % heart rate reserve. Measurements of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), an indicator of systemic arterial stiffness in humans, were performed at baseline (BL), immediately (0 min) and 60 min after exercise in exercise trials, and at corresponding time points in CON trial. CAVI remained unaltered throughout the procedure in CON trial (6.8 ± 0.1, 6.9 ± 0.1, 6.9 ± 0.2 at BL, 0 and 60 min, respectively). Similar CAVI reductions were observed in CE, AE20 and AE60 trials at 0 min compared to CON trial (P < 0.001 for CE, AE20 and AE60 vs. CON, respectively). Though CAVI in CE and AE60 trial returned to baseline at 60 min, the CAVI reduction at 60 min persisted in AE20 trial (P < 0.05 for AE20 vs. Compared to continuous exercise, accumulated exercise with appropriate short interval results in superior effects on systemic arterial stiffness in healthy young men, with arterial stiffness reduction for longer duration. When the interval is long, the acute superior effects of accumulated exercise on arterial stiffness disappeared.